Political Developments in Western Societies

[Zoice]

The far right is truly to blame. The left may lose ground to them, but they wouldn't be losing ground if there wasn't the far right in the first place calling for batshit insanity.

That's like saying "blockbuster wouldn't be losing ground to netflix if there wasn't any netflix".

Yeah, except Netflix is better than blockbuster, but demagoguery and xenophobia is much worse than blockbuster.

[Martean]

For example, France has always been a blalantly racist country

Who are you to decide which countries are racist and which aren't?

No offence, but your main political party according to all polls is the National Front.

However, I should've used ''France is a country with a fair degree of blalant racists'' But, you know, the important thing here is to get the point.

[Soyuzistan]

Many western societies are entering their most tumultuous time in recent history. The combination of the harshest economic decline since the Great Depression, the refugee crisis & rising Islamaphobia, and rising dissatisfaction with mainstream parties is leading governments to splinter in many countries. In addition, the far right is rising into prominence.

- Spain transitioned from a two party to a multiparty system in 2015, punishing its mainstream parties.
- Austria is about to elect a far right president. Neither presidential candidate is from the mainstream parties, the first time in the postwar era.
- Switzerland and Denmark's largest parties in government are far right parties.
- The AfD in Germany is polling at 15% (just 5% lower than the mainstream opposition party, the SPD). Meanwhile, support is collapsing for Merkel's CDU. Altogether, the smaller parties together are favored by 45% of the public. This is in stark contrast to the two main parties currently holding 80% of seats.
- In the Netherlands, the far right party is running away in the polls, far ahead of the mainstream parties.
- In Sweden, the far right party is nearly on par with the two mainstream parties.
- In Finland, the nationalist party holds the second largest amount of seats.
- Hungary's far right party is the third largest party in government.
- Slovakia's far right party entered the government for the first time in the recent election.

As I quote from an unknown, yet fellow NSer,

'I thought Europe almost died of a Overdose of Right-Wingers and Fascism 70 years ago'
-Unknown NSer.

Note: I added the Phrase 'Right Wingers' in the quote.

[Socialist Republics of Kasar]

Many western societies are entering their most tumultuous time in recent history. The combination of the harshest economic decline since the Great Depression, the refugee crisis & rising Islamaphobia, and rising dissatisfaction with mainstream parties is leading governments to splinter in many countries. In addition, the far right is rising into prominence.

- Spain transitioned from a two party to a multiparty system in 2015, punishing its mainstream parties.
- Austria is about to elect a far right president. Neither presidential candidate is from the mainstream parties, the first time in the postwar era.
- Switzerland and Denmark's largest parties in government are far right parties.
- The AfD in Germany is polling at 15% (just 5% lower than the mainstream opposition party, the SPD). Meanwhile, support is collapsing for Merkel's CDU. Altogether, the smaller parties together are favored by 45% of the public. This is in stark contrast to the two main parties currently holding 80% of seats.
- In the Netherlands, the far right party is running away in the polls, far ahead of the mainstream parties.
- In Sweden, the far right party is nearly on par with the two mainstream parties.
- In Finland, the nationalist party holds the second largest amount of seats.
- Hungary's far right party is the third largest party in government.
- Slovakia's far right party entered the government for the first time in the recent election.

As I quote from an unknown, yet fellow NSer,

'I thought Europe almost died of a Overdose of Right-Wingers and Fascism 70 years ago'
-Unknown NSer.

Note: I added the Phrase 'Right Wingers' in the quote.

I'm honestly scared for Europe if these rightists manage to get in power. They're really all fueled by hate: hate for immigrants, hate for neo-liberalism, hate for the establishment: something left wing parties haven't been able to capitalize on. Sure, you have parties like Syriza who end up getting elected to government, but hell, they fucking supported austerity. The European left is in disarray, and it really sucks, because a strong left could actually pull these people together and gain a lot more traction. They just haven't seemed to be able to do that.


Btw, reunite Yugoslavia

[Xadufell]

Well maybe there're more nationalists because they don't want their countries to lose their sovereignty under globalism and from the refugees.
But that's none of my business.

[Dinake]

I think there hasn't been much of change. The difference between now and before is that ''extremists'' have stopped supporting the parties they used to vote for, but there has always been a lot of racism and xenophobia in the EU, or socialists/almost communists supporting social-liberal and social-democratic parties.

For example, France has always been a blalantly racist country, although this wasn't important when there were not many immigrants and therefore 'true' racists were 'hidden' from the public. But when tens of thousands started to move to France, many people let their racism out, and FN gained tracktion, fuelled both by leftists who feel the PSF has betrayed their rights, favouring globalization and free-market policies; and also conservatives who thought the UMP was 'too soft' when dealing with immigrantion, and now Marine Le-Pen will most surely win the first round of the presidential election.

SSPX members are one of France's fastest growing demographic groups. I'll bet at least a big part of FN's success is driven by relative social conservatism, hospitability to monarchists, and less enthusiasm for targeting Catholics with laicite.

[Dinake]

That's like saying "blockbuster wouldn't be losing ground to netflix if there wasn't any netflix".

Yeah, except Netflix is better than blockbuster, but demagoguery and xenophobia is much worse than blockbuster.

My point was there is a reason both appeal to people, and that's driven by legitimate problems with the status quo.

[Souseiseki]

For example, France has always been a blalantly racist country

Who are you to decide which countries are racist and which aren't?

statistics

[Zoice]

Yeah, except Netflix is better than blockbuster, but demagoguery and xenophobia is much worse than blockbuster.

My point was there is a reason both appeal to people, and that's driven by legitimate problems with the status quo.

There are legit problems, for sure. But the alternative that many are rushing to is much worse, so to fix the analogy, it'd be a Netflix service that runs on child slavery (somehow?) as the alternative to Blockbuster.

[Great Feng]

...meh.
Let the third world war begin!
*Grabs popcorn*
This'll make an interesting story to make or play videogames based off of ...If I live through it.

[Othelos]

As I quote from an unknown, yet fellow NSer,

'I thought Europe almost died of a Overdose of Right-Wingers and Fascism 70 years ago'
-Unknown NSer.

Note: I added the Phrase 'Right Wingers' in the quote.

I'm honestly scared for Europe if these rightists manage to get in power. They're really all fueled by hate: hate for immigrants, hate for neo-liberalism, hate for the establishment: something left wing parties haven't been able to capitalize on. Sure, you have parties like Syriza who end up getting elected to government, but hell, they fucking supported austerity. The European left is in disarray, and it really sucks, because a strong left could actually pull these people together and gain a lot more traction. They just haven't seemed to be able to do that.


Btw, reunite Yugoslavia 8)

The good thing is that these countries are multi-party systems; even if the far right gains traction, they are highly unlikely to gain a majority and therefore won't be able to unleash their full potential.

[Delacroix]

Who are you to decide which countries are racist and which aren't?

statistics

Such as....

[Xadufell]

Well maybe there're more nationalists because they don't want their countries to lose their sovereignty under globalism and from the refugees.
But that's none of my business.

Good to know that ^^this^^ doesn't bring up any argument.

[Othelos]

Well maybe there're more nationalists because they don't want their countries to lose their sovereignty under globalism and from the refugees.
But that's none of my business.

Good to know that ^^this^^ doesn't bring up any argument.

What's to dispute? That's probably what a lot of Europeans are feeling.

[Xadufell]

Yeah, but others seem to have said the same and been berated for it.

[Great Feng]

Yeah, but others seem to have said the same and been berated for it.

Generally only if they bring up a conspiracy theory about muslims, jews, or USA.

[Dinake]

My point was there is a reason both appeal to people, and that's driven by legitimate problems with the status quo.

There are legit problems, for sure. But the alternative that many are rushing to is much worse, so to fix the analogy, it'd be a Netflix service that runs on child slavery (somehow?) as the alternative to Blockbuster.

We're going to disagree on that, but an analogy doesn't have to reflect your personal prejudices to be valid.

[Chestaan]

Neo-liberalism has dominated Europe for decades now, especially since the introduction of the Euro. Since the monumental crash and the complete failure of the established political class to deal with it, people have obviously become wary of the current system and are demanding change. There's only so much austerity enacted to protect the elites that we can swallow before turning against the system. And we have, the parties that have dominated politics for decades have gotten a richly deserved hammering in several European countries, especially those hit hardest by austerity. But the old institutions of neo-liberalism, especially within the EU have showed that they aren't going to die without a fight. When Syriza tried to pursue an alternative strategy to failed austerity policies, they were put down by the EU.

Sadly in many places the only alternative to the current parties are far-right nationalists, fascists and racists, but the left have gained ground too in the form of parties such as Podemos in Spain, Syriza in Greece (despite the lack of any spine) and parties like Sinn Fein and AAA-PBP in Ireland as well as the rise of Corbyn in the UK.

I hope and pray that this isn't just a temporary move, and the fact that major political parties have been completely obliterated is promising. The left needs to take this opportunity to rise up, provide an alternative to the far right and once and for all rid the world of neo-liberalism.

[Lannisport55]

In Spain, Podemos is really popular, but what has made them lose the elections was that they are too similar to Venezuelas style of government and this has led to some Spaniards to vote for Ciudadanos or PSOE. The right will most of the times beat the left, because the left lacks character and action when it is required.

[Othelos]

The right will most of the times beat the left, because the left lacks character and action when it is required.

It seems like that's a common perception in many countries.

[New confederate ramenia]

just go with the flow man

[The first Galactic Republic]

Many western societies are entering their most tumultuous time in recent history. The combination of the harshest economic decline since the Great Depression, the refugee crisis & rising Islamaphobia, and rising dissatisfaction with mainstream parties is leading governments to splinter in many countries. In addition, the far right is rising into prominence.

- Spain transitioned from a two party to a multiparty system in 2015, punishing its mainstream parties.
- Austria is about to elect a far right president. Neither presidential candidate is from the mainstream parties, the first time in the postwar era.
- Switzerland and Denmark's largest parties in government are far right parties.
- The AfD in Germany is polling at 15% (just 5% lower than the mainstream opposition party, the SPD). Meanwhile, support is collapsing for Merkel's CDU. Altogether, the smaller parties together are favored by 45% of the public. This is in stark contrast to the two main parties currently holding 80% of seats.
- In the Netherlands, the far right party is running away in the polls, far ahead of the mainstream parties.
- In Sweden, the far right party is nearly on par with the two mainstream parties.
- In Finland, the nationalist party holds the second largest amount of seats.
- Hungary's far right party is the third largest party in government.
- Slovakia's far right party entered the government for the first time in the recent election.
- The United States isn't immune to this trend, either. Donald Trump is the most nationalist presidential candidate to be nominated in a long while, who stormed a continually splintering party that has lurched rightwards over recent elections. The Democrats are now lurching leftwards. Both mainstream parties are heavily divided and are about to nominate the most unpopular candidates in recent history. More polarization and dysfunction looms.

The bigger issue is that we are technically in the "good times" economically, meaning that our societies are running on borrowed time in terms of whatever stability leftover from before 2008 has carried over. When there is another recession, it's likely that these trends will only strengthen. What can we do to stop this from descending too far?

Both parties are about to nominate unpopular candidates? Internet sites full of people too young to even vote may really skew things, but Hillary's obviously not that unpopular to have consistently gotten this much support.

As for the main topic maybe educate people more? People wouldn't fall back to these old far right views if they knew what society would really look like if they took power.

[Martean]

In Spain, Podemos is really popular, but what has made them lose the elections was that they are too similar to Venezuelas style of government and this has led to some Spaniards to vote for Ciudadanos or PSOE. The right will most of the times beat the left, because the left lacks character and action when it is required.

"Losing" the election is taking in 20.7% of the vote, way ahead the 15-17% that polls predicted, and gaining a lot of momentum that may drive Podemos-IU to reach 24-26% of the vote and pip the socialists?

And the only ones that believe the Venezuela nonsense are those who won't vote for Podemos anyway, so -_o_-

[Calimera II]

Who are you to decide which countries are racist and which aren't?

No offence, but your main political party according to all polls is the National Front.

However, I should've used ''France is a country with a fair degree of blalant racists'' But, you know, the important thing here is to get the point.

Are you really claiming that all people who vote for the Front National are racist and vote for the FN because some of its members may have some controversial political stances? ...

[Martean]

No offence, but your main political party according to all polls is the National Front.

However, I should've used ''France is a country with a fair degree of blalant racists'' But, you know, the important thing here is to get the point.

Are you really claiming that all people who vote for the Front National are racist and vote for the FN because some of its members may have some controversial political stances? ...

If you vote for the National Front, chances are you dislike globalization, free trade and especially immigration, which makes you more a xenophobe than a racist, but althought not all xenophobes are racists, all racists are xenophobes; and there is a correlation between the degree of xenophobia and the degree of racism in a society.

It'a not that all NF voters are racists, but the fact that it has got this far is indicative that there is quite a lot of xenophobes in France, and therefore a lot of racists.

Btw, the PSF and the UMP (now LR) are becoming increasingly hostile towards immigrants, too. Maybe they've discovered being racist does give them a chance to gain the presidency. That means something.